Whether climatic factors influence the frequency of punctual on-demand deliveries of groundwater for irrigation? Empirical study in the North China Plain

Using household level and plot level survey data spanning over 10 years, this study examines the effects of climatic factors on the frequency of punctual on-demand deliveries of groundwater for irrigation at the farm level in the North China Plain. Data show that for the past few decades, farmers have experienced a decline in the frequency of punctual on-demand deliveries of groundwater for irrigation, which is measured by the proportion of the number of groundwater irrigations whose delivery timing matched the requests of farmers. Econometric estimation results show that both long-term climate conditions (mean temperature and total precipitation) and short-term weather conditions during the growing seasons have statistically significant effects on the frequency of punctual on-demand deliveries of groundwater for irrigation. However, these effects can show opposite results. The frequency of punctual on-demand deliveries of groundwater for irrigation is negatively associated with an increase in the long-term average temperature but is positively associated with a short-term temperature rise. The effects, moreover, may also differ in magnitude. Although the frequency of punctual on-demand deliveries of groundwater for irrigation is positively associated with higher precipitation levels in both the short-term and the long-term, the latter exerts a larger influence.